Maharashtra: All you need to know about PM Modi's visit to Shirdi today

PM Modi (Pic/PTI)

PM Narendra Modi will be visiting Maharashtra's Shirdi on Thursday in order to launch a scheme aimed at benefitting more than 86 lakh farmers and launch projects worth over Rs 7,500 crore.

As per his schedule, PM Modi will begin his Maharashtra tour on October 26, by offering prayers at the famous Shri Saibaba temple in Shridi. "PM Modi will be inaugurating Shirdi temple's new 'darshan queue complex'," as per an official statement quoted by PTI.

The new 'darshan queue complex' in Shirdi is a state-of-the-art modern mega building envisaged to provide comfortable waiting areas for devotees, the statement reads further. It is equipped with several waiting halls with a cumulative seating capacity of more than 10,000 devotees.

The foundation stone of the 'darshan queue complex' was laid by the prime minister in October 2018.

Later, PM Modi will perform "Jal Pujan" of Nilwande Dam and dedicate a canal network of dam to the nation. The prime minister will later attend a public programme in Shirdi to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth about Rs 7,500 crore in sectors like health, rail, road and oil and gas.

"The 85 km canal network will benefit 182 villages by facilitating pipe distribution networks of water. The idea of Nilwande Dam was first conceived in 1970. It is being developed at a cost of about Rs 5,177 crore," the statement said.

Further, during the public programme, PM Modi will launch the 'Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana'. The scheme will benefit more than 86 lakh beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana in Maharashtra by providing an additional amount of Rs 6,000 per year to them.

The PM will inaugurate multiple development projects, including an Ayush hospital at the Ahmednagar Civil Hospital, electrification of Kurduwadi-Latur road railway section (186 km), four-laning of Sangli to Borgaon section of NH-166 (package-I) and additional facilities at Manmad Terminal of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited among other projects.

After the Maharashtra tour, he will later travel to Goa to inaugurate the 37th National Games.

Noting that the National Games are being held in Goa for the first time, the statement said Modi will also address the athletes taking part in the sporting event. The Games will be held from October 26 to November 9, and more than 10,000 athletes will compete in over 43 sports disciplines across 28 venues.

(with inputs from PTI)